Kiwis Gallant in Defeat to Home Town Scots

26 July 2014

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Kiwis Gallant in Defeat to Home Town Scots

New Zealand has bowed to the greater experience and higher world rankings of Scotland in their Group C Badminton clash at Glasgow overnight but the Kiwis put up a great fight in the process despite losing the tie 5-0.

High Performance Manager Roger Southby watched the action and said the overall score line did not reflect the effort and performance of the New Zealanders.

“The atmosphere was electric with a huge home crowd getting right in behind their team. A small but vocal kiwi contingent also played their part in encouraging the kiwis.

“We had notable performances from Oliver Leydon-Davis and Kevin Dennerly-Minturn in the men's doubles, pushing their far more experienced opponents to two hard fought games, eventually losing 23-21, 23-21.

“World number 64 Michelle Chan also had her chances against world number 17 Kirsty Gilmour, holding game points in the second before losing. Joe Wu also showed when he plays the game he is capable of he is a dangerous player for a lot of higher ranked opponents.”

Dennerly-Minturn spoke of his disappointment after the men’s doubles.

“That was a really good game, we are disappointed to lose two close sets, they are really good pair, very experienced and played with a great Scottish crowd. We were trying to take a set and the game, we are disappointed but it was a decent performance.”

Leydon-Davis echoed his partner’s sentiments.

“First what a great atmosphere and the noisy Kiwis played their part too so that was good to hear. To be leading in both sets and have it slip in both was disappointing but to take a step back that is the best we have played for a long time and we kept it there for the entire match, it was pretty much fifty fifty the whole way, could have gone either way.”

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